After a few moments the door to the com room slid open as his team flooded in one after the other.
"Have we recovered any useful data from the site? We still have a job to do destroying the facility was a setback but if Saren finds the Conduit I'm not sure we can stop him," Shepard said returning to his normal stoic tone.
"No Commander we weren't able to salvage any information as far as I know, STG tried but they were pretty occupied with the geth at the time." Kaidan said.
"Did the council provide any new intel?" Garrus asked.
"No they only cared about the cloning facility anything else I said practically went over their heads, they want proof and we need to find it," Shepard said.
"Commander if I may, I believe the beacon you interfaced with on Virmire may have filled in some of the missing pieces of your vision," Liara said.
"It's worth a try," Shepard said as he stood up walking toward the center of the com room as Liara followed suit.
Shepard braced himself as Liara came closer to him, "Embrace eternity!" she said before the visions of the beacon came back into his mind this time even more vivid than before he saw the usual things of death and destruction and the machines he now recognized to be Reapers. Though this time there was some kind of planet though he didn't recognize it but he hoped Liara could make sense of this seeing as she had spent half a century studying the Protheans.
The vision ceased as he was plunged back into reality Liara stumbled back somewhat as Shepard gently put his hands on her arms helping her regain her balance, "I'm sorry the joining is a very exhausting process," Liara said now regaining her balance as Shepard slowly released his grip on her.
"Did we find out anything new?" Tali asked.
"I did see some new images, a planet I believe I couldn't make out which planet though the rest appeared to be the same but with more clarity. A general distress warning against the Reapers," Shepard said turning his attention to Liara, "Were you able to make out anything?"
"Yes I believe so the planet, I know it I just can't seem to put my finger on it," Liara said as she paused to think for a few moments. "Wait that's Illos, the conduit is on Illos!" Liara exclaimed before catching herself from tumbling onto the floor.
"Why don't you go lie down in the med bay for a little?" Shepard asked
"No wait, it's all coming together now. Illos is through the Mu relay, remember the data my mother was able to give us had the coordinates of the relay!" Liara exclaimed.
"Yeah we tossed it aside because the Mu relay leads to thousands of systems, but with this information we know where Saren is heading!" Kaidan said breaking from his usual monotone and calm voice as he sat forward in his chair.
"If that's true we need help from the council, they need to send a fleet there to stop him!" Garrus exclaimed.
Shepard walked over to the com panel near the exit and activated it, "Joker did you catch all that?"
"Yes sir, want me to inform the council?" Joker asked.
"Let them know," Shepard said before closing the channel.
Shepard turned back towards his team, "Dismissed," he said before turning his attention to Liara. "I'll help you to the medical bay if you'd like."
"I'll be fine," Liara said as she walked over toward the exit.
Shepard nodded his head as he headed back toward the hangar hoping to get more training in, beating himself up was easier than facing reality right now. He reached the elevator though before he could step inside someone grabbed his shoulder, "What the hell are you doing?" Shepard recognized the voice as Garrus immediately as he spun around to face him.
"Training," Shepard said.
"Liara told me what happened in the hangar, she's worried about you," Garrus said in a serious tone.
"Nothing is wrong Garrus, I'm just dealing with things," Shepard said trying to steer the conversation away from where he knew it was going.
"You call this coping Shepard?" Garrus said with a slightly raised tone.
"What else am I supposed to do Garrus? How much death can one person deal with? How many soldiers have to die under my command bef-"
"Before your friend picks you up dusts you off and tells you you're the best damn soldier he's ever met," Garrus said firmly placing a hand on his shoulder, "Share the weight a little."
"I can't ask that of my team," Shepard said softly.
"You don't have to," Garrus said as he let go of Shepard's shoulder.
"Thanks Garrus, I'm not sure I could've asked for a better team," Shepard said turning away from the elevator.
"I couldn't have asked for a better leader," Garrus said.
Shepard headed towards the medical bay to check on Liara, he needed to make things right especially if they were going to be throwing themselves straight into the arms of the enemy. He reached the panel and swiped his hand over it as the doors slid open revealing Chakwas and Liara at the far end of the medical bay, "We're finished if you want some rest," Chakwas said as she gave a comforting pat on her shoulder.
"Liara I'm sorry," Shepard said with a sincere tone as he approached her as she was sitting at the medical bed at the end of the room.
Liara looked up at him, "Shepard its fine," she said trying to downplay the situation.
"No it's not, you were right, beating myself up in the cargo hold isn't going to bring anyone back," Shepard admitted as he stepped next to her.
Liara gave a small nod of acceptance though before she could muster up a response the sound of Joker's voice through the intercom interrupted her, "Commander we're receiving a priority communication from the Citadel."
Shepard looked over at Liara as she gave him a quick nod before he made his way over to the com panel located near the entrance to the med-bay by the door and activated the panel, "Patch it through the com room, I'm on my way," he said before closing the line and opening the door. He made his way up the winding stairs to the CIC and turned his attention toward the communications room. He swiped his hand over the panel as the door slid open to reveal the glowing hologram of Ambassador Udina.
"Ambassador," Shepard said as he entered the room and walked over face the projection.
"Commander Shepard. We've received your report about the Saren and the conduit, the council is mobilizing a fleet and they want the Normandy at the head of that fleet," he said with his usual tone almost snide tone.
"Finally," Shepard said sternly.
"The councilors want to meet with you first when you arrive," Udina said.
"Anything else?" Shepard asked.
"No that will be all Shepard," Udina said before cutting the line.
Shepard let out a sigh of relief as the projection dissipated, "Politicians," he muttered to himself as headed back towards the CIC. As the doors slid open he saw Kaidan waiting for him, "How'd it go Commander?" Kaidan asked.
"Udina says the council is mobilizing a fleet to take down Saren and they want the Normandy at the head of the fleet," Shepard said as they walked down the stairs toward the mess hall together.
"Excuse me if this sounds out of line sir but that seems a little odd. First they want almost nothing to with Conduit and the Reapers and now they're mobilizing a fleet because we found evidence that the Conduit is on Illos?" Kaidan said as they walked past a few crew men carrying their meals to their table.
"I don't know can't say I don't agree with you but I guess we'll just have to find out when we get there," Shepard said as they approached the door to his quarters.
"Well get some rest Commander, you're going to need it," Kaidan said before walking over to speak with one of his marines.
Shepard waved his hand over the door panel and entered to find his room how he had left it before the mission on Virmire with the picture frame sitting by the locket she had given him. Normally he would have checked on Liara but he thought she could probably use the rest and so could he. He slid off his uniform and changed into one of his loose shirts and sat on the bed. He checked his omni-tool for any messages before lying down, satisfied there were none he laid back and slipped into unconsciousness.
A few hours had passed before he was awoken by the familiar sound of Joker's voice through the intercom, "We're about twenty minutes out from the Citadel, figured you'd want to know."
Though still groggy Shepard pushed himself up at he slid his legs over the side of the bed. He hit the com panel on his wall by his night stand, "Thanks," he said before closing the line.
He forced himself out of bed as he grabbed his alliance dress uniform which was neatly folded in his dresser and slipped it on. He checked over his uniform using the mirror by the sink to make sure he hadn't forgotten anything in his groggy state. Satisfied that his uniform was correct he headed for the door and made his way to the CIC. Upon arriving at the CIC he was greeted by Presley who appeared to be making final preparations for their docking, "Commander," he said before turning back to his station.
Shepard could feel a slight shutter as the Normandy pulled out of FTL near the Citadel. Presley activated the com panel next to him, "Citadel control this is Alliance vessel Normandy requesting permission to dock."
"Alliance vessel Normandy you are cleared to dock sending approach vector," the voice said before closing the line.
"Approach vector received," one of the other navigators said to Presley.
Shepard waited as Joker effortlessly guided the Normandy toward the docking bay, after a few moments the shudder of the docking clamps shook the ship slightly as they locked into place. Shepard wasted no time heading for the airlock as Liara and Garrus followed behind him. After a few moments the decontamination sequence finished and the airlock opened to reveal two C-Sec officers standing at attention in front of the airlock.
"The Council would like to see you immediately," the first officer, a turian said as he gestured for them to follow him.
Shepard followed suit behind the officer as they stepped into the docking bay's elevator. The two officers entered first with Shepard, Garrus, and Liara followed right behind. The doors sealed and the elevator spurred to life as it made its way down to C-Sec headquarters.
"We have a sky car ready to take you to the council chambers," the turian said as the elevator slowed it's decent.
The elevator came to a stop as the doors slid open revealing the normal activity of C-Sec as the crowds flowed everywhere.
"Car is this way sir," the second officer, a human, said to them pointing towards a nearby landing platform usually reserved for C-Sec vehicles.
They made their way over to the platform and got into the car with the two officers following behind them.
After a few minutes of flight they arrived at the Citadel tower as they landed with a small thud as the car touched down. They had landed on a small pad on the presidium right next to the entrance to the council chambers. Shepard exited the vehicle and made his way inside the council chambers.
He made his way in to find the council and Udina waiting for him, "Commander," Udina said as he approached the platform that sat before the council.
"When are we going to mobilize? If we're going to beat Saren to the conduit we need to move. Now." Shepard said.
"Yes about that Commander," the asari said.
"You need to stand down," the salarian said.
"What the hell are you talking about? Saren is heading to Illos through the Mu Relay if we want to stop him we need to move." Shepard said his tone becoming noticeably irritable.
"In the event that what you claim is true we have the Citadel fleet on high alert and are ordering patrols to every relay connecting to the Citadel," the turian said.
"We need to send a fleet in after him!" Shepard exclaimed.
"Council ships aren't welcome in the Terminus systems Commander, sending in a few ships would provoke them. Sending in a fleet could have dire consequences." The asari responded.
"Well the Normandy can slide in undetected, if you're not going to send a fleet at least send me!" Shepard said his irritation now turning to anger.
"This mission requires subtlety Commander and from past experience we can gather that isn't your strong suit." The turian said.
"You idiots are more afraid of a few red sand dealers and pirates then you are of a rouge Spectre working with Reapers," Shepard yelled.
"I think that's enough Commander," Udina said as he put his hand on Shepard's shoulder as he tried to pull him back.
"Well it's obvious that you aren't going to let this go Commander," Udina said as he stepped up beside Shepard. "Until further notice the Normandy is grounded."
"Politicians…" Shepard said before turning around and heading for the door.
To be continued in my next story